Sunday, August 25, 2002

Rebecca's Journey - 2

Greetings Friends,

I'm in the US presently, but have had several reports from home, as well as a conversation with Rebecca this morning. It seems we have turned a corner. I'm greatly encouraged - so is she. I've copied a report from Annie below, in a PS, so those of you who wish more details can have them. Since returning from the University Hospital where her medications were balanced, she's been making steady progress. The day before I left, the therapist said that her right side, which had become almost non functional in the last months, was catching up with her good left side. The nausea is almost completely gone.

A few days ago the psychologist asked her: "Rebecca, what is your secret?" She was delighted to have the opportunity to say that it is Jesus, living in her. How do you bear the unbearable? Jesus! How do you endure the unendurable? Jesus. How do you find joy and contentment in the midst of terrible loss and pain? Jesus. He, Himself, is what we need.

Robert and Tracey wrote yesterday: "Last night she slept well, and that was visible when we saw her today. Rebecca's face was brighter when we arrived. She said that the Lord told her this morning that "His grace is sufficient for her". She says she is going to call the wheelchair the GRACE MOBILE, and that she has a sense of being able to conquer it now."

She will be more than a conqueror. Praise God for progress!

Our love to you all,

Paul

PS Report from Annie:

Wednesday, 21 August

Dear Paul,

It has been a pretty busy, good afternoon. Physiotherapy was great today (Rebecca's words). Rebecca worked hard. Frank (therapist) worked on both arms and shoulders. He had R hold a glass of water with the left hand and drink all on her own. He built up R's shoulder strength by using a balloon device to secure the arm and then asked her to raise her left arm vertically and to hold it without help, which she did. All that stirred up a bit the pain in the back of the head, but it was quite bearable, R. said. Frank also had her standing on her feet while he held her, as he had done once before. R could bear it well and didn't feel dizzy.

She managed to sleep an hour after physio this morning, in spite of all the various interruptions. A wee bit of nausea, but the young doctor who came to check the nausea suggested it might just come from the intense effort. They are going to do a blood analysis to make sure. Dr. Gheikens' assistant came later on, visibly delighted to announce to R. she was doing very well.

Then the speech therapist came. Gertie made R work on breathing and stressing the fourth word of a sequence...and the voice came pretty loudly several times after some exercise. "So it does work!" was R's happy comment.

Then it was physio again. They worked on the muscles of the back. Frank put a cushion under her legs and asked her to dig her heels in and lift, using the muscles in her back. He also put his hand under R's back and asked her to move her muscles so as to crush his hand. She did it, but had some cramps in her back afterwards. They didn't last. They also worked on R lifting her head forward from the pillow. After coming back into the room and having supper, R suddenly realized that, trying to scratch herself, she had simultaneously moved her left arm to her face and naturally lifted her head from the pillow to get nearer her arm. She was thrilled, as it came so spontaneously.

At supper R ate well. She had a whole peach for dessert, a part of which she ate without help, using a fork on her own.

Then Stephen (the occupational therapist) came to make an appointment for tomorrow. He was very encouraging. He said that in a healthy body the nerves' healing process is one millimeter per day. Each illness, even a cold, can freeze that process till the body is healthy again. He said that in R's case, being somewhat unique, there are still lots of things they are not yet sure about. They don't know how far the healing process will be able to go. But he was encouraged.

His short-term aim is still for R to use her left arm (and the right one is to follow as much as possible) to feed herself, write, and drive the new electric wheelchair that just arrived for her. Stephen is still testing it at the moment. He wants R to have as much independence as possible.

Thursday evening, 22 August

R felt rather nauseated and hot (she had no temperature though) most of the evening. Still, she didn't compare it to the bad nausea she had before. Rather, she thinks she overdid it yesterday and is exhausted. She is determined to balance her days and the energy she spends on rehab. The pain in the back of the head has been there as well and R had to have extra pain med in order to be able to settle down and sleep. But she was still naturally moving her head and lifting it from the pillow. Though she does not feel well, she kept a sense of humor. What she badly needs, and we prayed for, is a good and long night of uninterrupted sleep. She believes everything will be OK after that. The night nurse is very sweet and sensitive and will check both the pain and R's sleep.

Carine the psychologist was here early this afternoon. R had asked the Lord how, and to what extent, she should share her faith with her. Well, Carine came with a question: "What is your secret?" R was thrilled to answer it!

R and Stephen (youngest son) are missing each other, so I'll take him there tomorrow afternoon.

Thursday, August 15, 2002

Rebecca's Journey - 1

Dear Friends,

We're glad to be back in Belgium. We returned to Pellenberg last week where Rebecca started rehab once again. She was not, however, feeling well. We attributed it to having just had 2 major surgeries less than 3 weeks earlier. Then Tuesday of this week Rebecca slept most of the day, unable to do any rehab. At 6:00 PM Annie had arrived and Susannah and I were leaving. I didn't want to go without saying goodbye, so I tried to waken Rebecca - but could not. One of the nurses was in the room and immediately went for the doctor, who immediately called an ambulance to take Rebecca to the ER in Leuven. (I told Rebecca later that she is full of surprises and certainly doesn't let life get dull!)

The short story is that the doctors discovered that one of her medicines was at a toxic level in her blood, and that she had dangerously low sodium and potassium levels. We were all relieved at this diagnosis. (Other, more serious possibilities had been considered as causes of the semi-coma.) She spent the night in the ER and was moved yesterday to a regular room. The doctors are balancing the meds and the sodium & potassium levels - and she is doing much better. Rebecca will be moved back to Pellenberg early nest week. Whew!

From Rebecca: It has been a while since I have shared with you myself.How I appreciate my husband's faithfulness in communicating with you, and your amazing faithfulness to stand with us through this saga.

I had a point of revelation last night. It was intensely hot, mosquitoes attacked with a vengeance, (I of course cannot yet swap at them!) and in the middle of the night the container of my nighttime tube feed fell with a crash, barely missing my head.

Here is what I saw: In all of the events of the past months I have not questioned the Lord's control or leading, but I realized I had begun to wonder about His goodness. He showed me, in the heat of a Belgian summer night, that to believe He was in control but to doubt His goodness was a terrifying thing, and is surely sin in my heart against Him.

When I awoke this morning I had a restored sense of His goodness as well as His control. It is a wonderful thing how the Lord pushes us until we see what is in our hearts. I'm thankful to have that place of quiet rest restored.

Much love, Rebecca

Paul again: One of our dear friends has suggested that we change the titles of Rebecca's updates. She said that we should look ahead and not back to the accident. So, for the future, you'll be getting updates entitled "Rebecca's Journey". It's a good idea. Thanks Judith! We are looking forward, anticipating seeing "the goodness of God in the land of the living".

In Him,

Paul

PS: Susannah returns to Jacksonville on Sunday, then I leave for North America on Wednesday. Annie and Robert & Tracy will, with the team here, care for Rebecca for the next several weeks. Annie returns home to France on the 28th, the same day that Jane Winegardner comes to take her place. Jane will be here until Judy arrives on 5 September. I get back on the 9th.

Rebecca's Journey

Dear Friends,

We're glad to be back in Belgium. We returned to Pellenberg last week where Rebecca started rehab once again. She was not, however, feeling well. We attributed it to having just had 2 major surgeries less than 3 weeks earlier. Then Tuesday of this week Rebecca slept most of the day, unable to do any rehab. At 6:00 PM Annie had arrived and Susannah and I were leaving. I didn't want to go without saying goodbye, so I tried to waken Rebecca - but could not. One of the nurses was in the room and immediately went for the doctor, who immediately called an ambulance to take Rebecca to the ER in Leuven. (I told Rebecca later that she is full of surprises and certainly doesn't let life get dull!)

The short story is that the doctors discovered that one of her medicines was at a toxic level in her blood, and that she had dangerously low sodium and potassium levels. We were all relieved at this diagnosis. (Other, more serious possibilities had been considered as causes of the semi-coma.) She spent the night in the ER and was moved yesterday to a regular room. The doctors are balancing the meds and the sodium & potassium levels - and she is doing much better. Rebecca will be moved back to Pellenberg early nest week. Whew!

From Rebecca: It has been a while since I have shared with you myself. How I appreciate my husband's faithfulness in communicating with you, and your amazing faithfulness to stand with us through this saga.

I had a point of revelation last night. It was intensely hot, mosquitoes attacked with a vengeance, (I of course cannot yet swap at them!) and inthe middle of the night the container of my nighttime tube feed fell with a crash, barely missing my head.

Here is what I saw: In all of the events of the past months I have not questioned the Lord's control or leading, but I realized I had begun to wonder about His goodness. He showed me, in the heat of a Belgian summer night, that to believe He was in control but to doubt His goodness was a terrifying thing, and is surely sin in my heart against Him.

When I awoke this morning I had a restored sense of His goodness as well as His control. It is a wonderful thing how the Lord pushes us until we see what is in our hearts. I'm thankful to have that place of quiet rest restored.

Much love, Rebecca

Paul again: One of our dear friends has suggested that we change the titles of Rebecca's updates. She said that we should look ahead and not back to the accident. So, for the future, you'll be getting updates entitled "Rebecca's Journey". It's a good idea. Thanks Judith! We are looking forward, anticipating seeing "the goodness of God in the land of the living".

In Him,

Paul

PS: Susannah returns to Jacksonville on Sunday, then I leave for North America on Wednesday. Annie and Robert & Tracy will, with the team here, care for Rebecca for the next several weeks. Annie returns home to France on the 28th, the same day that Jane Winegardner comes to take her place. Jane will be here until Judy arrives on 5 September. I get back on the 9th.

Wednesday, August 07, 2002

Rebecca - Day 307

Dear Friends,

We are back in Pellenberg. We arrived in Leuven by ambulance, via the Chunnel, about 8:00 PM Friday evening. Because it was the weekend we didn't see any of the doctors until Monday morning. They wanted several x-rays and an MRI done before she was released. These were completed yesterday and we came here this morning.

We are thankful to be back, and to have the surgeries behind us. Facing them was a bit daunting, but the Lord faithfully carried us through.

From Rebecca: Well, you prayed me across the channel, through the surgeries, and back again. I'm in my room, watching the trees blow as a storm forms outside. What a delight! As you know the surgeries were successful, and we were delighted that the doctors were willing to let us come back to Belgium so soon. The trip back turned out to be much easier than the trip going. The doctors gave me a sleeping pill and I slept most of the way - a great way to travel. Professor Goffin, the neurosurgeon here, came by my room last night and said he was thrilled with the results, and that I was ready to re-begin my rehabilitation.

The welcome by the nurses here made it feel like I was coming home. I had some dark days at the end of our time in England, but the Lord met me in the night. He is so faithful. Probably many of you were praying during those times. I just had to cast myself upon His grace. Thank you for your prayers. He carries me.

The task ahead is challenging. Susannah will arrive this Saturday for a week. The timing is perfect. She is always an encouragement to me, and I'm sure she will be this time. We all miss Judy, but we're glad she is getting a good rest before returning. It is wonderful to see the team here. Mary has been with me two nights since I've been back. What a gift she is. Annie continues to be such a blessing. Robert and Tracy Vaughan are here for 6 weeks from the States. They are already a blessing, and I know they will continue to be so.